Grief Mage.
The Grief Mage is the hottest new PVP (Player vs. Player) mage template around. The high CREATURE and MAGIC DEFENSE skills allow you to debuff your opponent - and resist his debuffs at the same time. This template also allows for easy level 7 spell casting just like the OG Mage template.
(NOTE: This version of the Grief Mage template almost completely requires help from Level 1-16. You can start with LIFE and ITEM with this template - but you would have to waste 2 skill points doing it.)
You should always start a full mage with 100 FOCUS and 100 SELF. The other attributes can be customized to your liking. If you can get a lot of twinking and care in the early (1-30) levels, you could opt for taking this character very extreme by starting with 100 STRENGTH.
Post 40 you get to choose from either Healing @ 70, Lockpick @ 70, Leadership @ 60 or Arcane @ 60.